German grammar: Adjektivdeklination im Nominativ

What this grammar point covers

Adjective declension in the nominative case means changing the ending of a German adjective when it comes before a noun in the subject position of a sentence.

When to use it

Use adjective declension in the nominative when you describe the subject of a sentence with an adjective before the noun. The ending of the adjective depends on the gender (der/die/das), number (singular/plural), and the article (definite, indefinite, or none).

Key forms

• Ein schöner Tag
• Die kleine Katze
• Ein gutes Buch
• Der alte Mann

Examples

Tips

• Always check the article (der, die, das, ein, eine, etc.) to choose the correct adjective ending.
• With no article, the adjective takes a strong ending (e.g., Frischer Kaffee ist heiß.).
• Pay attention to the gender and number of the noun to avoid mistakes.